JONESBORO, Ark. (7/19/12) – Arkansas State bowler Sarah Lokker finished among the top-16 after 25-games at the Junior Gold Championships in Las Vegas, Nev., on Thursday.

Lokker will now compete in Friday’s double-elimination match-play round. She finished 11^th overall and had a 5,014-pin count for a 200.56 average. After Wednesday’s qualifying round she was in seventh place after finishing her 15-game set with a 195.80 average.

If Lokker is among the top-2 finishers after Friday’s round she will automatically earn a spot on the Junior USA bowling team. The top-2 qualifiers after Thursday’s round have already secured their positions on the squad and the next two highest finishers after Friday’s round will also receive an invite to join the team. Two at-large bids will also be up for grabs during Friday’s round.

Lokker was named the National Ten Pin Coaches Association Rookie of the Year during the 2011-12 season and helped the Red Wolves secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament. She was also a NTCA All-America third team selection.

Fellow A-State bowler Ashley Rucker qualified 47^th after Wednesday’s round with an average of 185.67 but failed to finish among the top-16 on Thursday to advance to the match-play round.